Breech-loading cannon.



M U maximum) m: wazsmmu Wm No. 681,02l'. Patented Aug. 20,. 190:. C. H.GRIFFITH. BBEECH LOADING CANNON.

(Application filed May 9. 1801.) (No Model.)

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(Application filed m 9. 1901.)

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No. 68l,02l. Patented Au 20, IBM. C. H. GRIFFITH. BBEEGH LOADING" cmmon.(Application filed May 9. 1901.) (No Model.)

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I I J NU UUVZ? No. 68l,02|. Patented Aug. 20, I90l. 0. H. GRIFFITH.

BREECH LOADING CANNON.

(Application filed May 9. 1901.]

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(No Model.)

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$11563 i i U l Eli SUi'i lillE-bliibl CHARLES H. GRIFFITH, OF NEW HAVEN,CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNQR TO WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO., OF SAME PLACE.

BREECH-LOADING CANNON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,021, dated August20, 1901.

' Application filed May 9, 1901- Serial No. 59,371. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. GRIFFITH, of New Haven, in the county ofNew Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Breech-Loading Cannon; and I do hereby declare thefollowing, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings andthe numerals of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of thisspecification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a view in side elevation of my improved cannon; Fig. 2, anenlarged broken view thereof in rear elevation; Fig. 3, a broken view ofthe rear end of the barrel of the cannon in vertical longitudinalsection, showing its parts in their closed relations and its hammer inits fired position; Fig. 4, a corresponding view with the hammer in itscocked position Fig. 5, a broken reverse plan View of the rear end ofthe barrel of the cannon with all of its parts removed; Fig. 6, a brokenview, in vertical longitudinal section, of the rear end of the barrel ofthe cannon, showing its breech-block carrier and breech-block in theirclosed and locked positions by full lines and in their unlocked and openpositions by broken lines; Fig. 7, a corresponding but lesscomprehensive View of the rear end of the barrel of the cannon inhorizontal section on the line Ct 11 of Fig. 2; Fig. 8, a view in rearelevation of the barrel of the cannon with all of its parts removedexcept the extractor; Fig. 9, a detached view, in inside elevation, ofthe breech-block carrier, the breech-block, and the handle applied tothe latter; Fig. 10, a broken reverse plan View of the rear end of thebarrel of the cannon with the lower leaf of the hammer-spring brokenaway; Fig. 11, a detached view, in rear elevation, of the breech-blockcarrier, breech-block, and handle, showing the breech-block and handlein their locked relations to the breech-block carrier; Fig. 12, acorresponding view showing the breech-block and handle in their unlockedrelations to the breech-block carrier; Fig. 13, a detached perspectiveview of the breech-block and handle; Fig. 14, a detached perspectiveview of the breech-block carrier looking toward its inner face; Fig. 15,a detached perspective view of the hammer.

My invention relates to an improvement in breech-loading cannon, theobject being to produce at a low cost for manufacture a simple, safe,and effective cannon designed with particular reference for use as asalutingcannon.

With these ends in view my invention consists in a cannon having certaindetails of construction and combinations of parts, as will behereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

In carrying out my invention I form in the extreme rear end of thebarrel 2 of the can non a vertical centrally arrangedbreechblock-carrier slot 3, having parallel side walls. The bottom ofthis slot opens directly into a circular breech-block recess 4,concentric with the bore 2 of the barrel 2 and larger in diameter thanthe width of the slot 3, whereby locking-spaces 5 are formed under themiddle portions of the side walls of the same. The said slot receives avertically-arranged breech-block carrier 6, formed with a centralcircular hub-opening 7 and with a vertical hammer-clearance slot 8,which leads from the bottom of the said opening 7 downward through thelower edge of the said carrier, which is formed with twoforwardly-projecting arms 9, having registered perforations 10 for thereception of the pin 11, upon which the carrier swings. At their extremeinner ends the arms 9 are formed with upwardlyextending extracting-toes12, the rear edges of which are beveled.

The breech-block recess 4, already described, receives the oblongbreech-block 13, which has straight sides and rounded ends, which latterare entered into the locking-spaces 5 when the breech-block is turnedinto its horizontal recoil taking position. The said breech-block 13bears against the inner face of the breech-block carrier 6 and is formedwith a heavy hub 14, which passes outwardly through and projects beyondthe central circular hub-opening 7 of the breech-block carrier, in whichthe hub, and hence the breechblock, are secured by means of a transversepin 15, mounted in the breech-block carrier d entering a circumferentialgroove 16, -med in the hub and adapted in length to iit the rotarymovement of the breechck to an arc of substantially ninety deaes, theengagement of'the end walls of the )ove 16 with the pin positivelylimiting a rotary movement of the breech-block, the ejecting outer endof the hub 14 of which furnished with an operating-handle 17. 1e saidhub 14 is formed with a large clear (re-opening 18, entering it from itsouter d and extending forwardly to the outer face the breech-block. Asshown, this clearce-openin gis an opening of ninety degrees at is tosay, its side walls stand at right anes to each other. It is out beyondthe axial nter of the hub, so as to expose the firingenin'g19, formed inthe center of the breechock. In order to prevent the firing of acartridge the cannon when the breech-block is not its f ull y-lockedposition, I provide a safetyonlder at the inner end of the clearance-.ening 18 and locate the said shoulder so at it will be engaged by theforward edge Fig. 15, of the hammer 22 unless at the ne the hammer fallsthe breech-block is in s fully-locked position, at which time thetmmer-groove 23, formed at the inner end the hub, is in line with thehammer-slot 8 the breech-block, and hence in line with e hammer itself.This safety-shoulder 2O .erefore acts as a fender and prevents the'ing-nose 24 of the hammer from reaching .e cap of the cartridge in casethe hammer lould fall when the breech-block is not in its cked position.The hammer 22 is flat in form, adapted in iickness to enter thehammer-slot 8 of the reach-block carrier and the space between 1e arms 9thereof, and is provided with a ivot-hole 25, receiving the pin 11,before entioned,which forms a pivot for the breechlock carrier, as wellas a pivot for the hamver. At its outer end it is formed with atiger-piece 26, containing an opening 27 for l6 attachment of a lamyardl lfihe hammer also furnished with an antifriction-roller 5, whichis engaged by the tapered rear end f the lower leaf 29 of a heavysheet-metal ammer-spring 30, the upper leaf of which is )rmed with along slot 31, producing two n'responding spring-fingers 32 32, theforard.end of the slot 31 receiving a heavy :rew 33, by which the springis secured to re barrel of the cannon. The extreme rear ads of thespring-finger 32 engage with the CldS of the pin 11 and hold the same inplace 1 the shallow groove 34, formed for their reeption in the lowerface of the barrel 2 of 1c cannon. This pin is not,therefore,driven itothe barrel 2, but simply laid into the said roove, in which it is heldby the upward ressure of the said spring-fingers. This fea- LII'B ofconstruction makes my improved canon very easy to make, assemble, anddisiember. The lower leaf 29 of the said spring rod.

performs the twofold function of holding the hammer in its cockingposition and of throwing the hammer forward to explode the cartridgeafter the antifriction-roller 28 of the hammer passes its dead-centerpoint.

The extracting-toes 12 of the breech-block carrier coact with the loweredge of the inner face of an extractor-head 35, located at the rear endof a longitudinally-movable rod 36, moving back and forth in a socket37, formed for its reception below the bore 2 of the barrel and held inplace by a screw 38 passing upward into the barrel through the slot 31in the spring and entering a longitudinal groove 39, formed in the lowerface of the It will be readily understood that when the breech-blockcarrier is swung outward into its open position the lugs 12 will forcethe extractor-head rearwardly and so effect the extraction of the spentshell with the inner face of the lower edge of the rim of which itengages.

For elevating the cannon I employ an elevating-screw 40, having athumb-wheel 41 and engaging with the forward end of the lower leaf 29 ofthe hammer-spring 30, the said elevating-screw being mounted in across-tie 42, uniting the sides of the carriage 43, in which the barrel2 of the cannon is trunnioned.

It is obvious that in carrying out my invention some changes from theconstruction herein shown and described may be made. I would thereforehave it understood that I do not limit myself to the precise detailsshown, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterationsas fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cannon, the combination with a pivotal breech-block carrierformed with a hubopening and with a hammer-clearance slot leadingdownward therefrom through the lower edge of the carrier, of abreech-block placed against the inner face of the said carrier andprovided with a hub extending rearwardly through the said hub-openingthereof, a handle located upon the projecting rear end of the said hub,and a swinging hammer entering the slot in the carrier, and having thesame pivotal center as the carrier.

2. In a cannon, the combination with a pivotal breech-block carrierformed with a hubopening and with a hammer-clearance slot leadingdownward therefrom through the lower edge of the carrier which is formedwith two forwardly-projecting arms for the reception of the pivot uponwhich the carrier swings, of a breech-block placed against the innerface of the said carrier and provided with a hub extending rearwardlythrough the said opening, and a hammer entering the said slot and havingthe same pivotal center as the carrier.

: 3. In a cannon, the combination with a uuuuuiuiLU run WHBOENU bUF']breech-block carrier formed with a circular hub-opening and with ahammer-clearance slot leading downward therefrom through the lower edgeof the carrier, of a breech-block formed with a firing-opening providedwith a hub extending rearwardly through the said hub-opening, alsoformed with a clearanceopening exposing the said firing-opening; and ahammer having the same pivotal center as the said carrier, entering theslot therein, and also entering the said clearance-opening in the hub ofthe breech-block.

4. In a cannon, the combination with a breech-block carrier formed witha hub-opening and with a hammer-clearance slot leading downwardtherefrom, of a breech block formed with a hub extending rearwardlythrough the said hub-opening, the said block being formed With afiring-opening, and the said hub being formed with a clearance-openingexposing the said firing-opening, a safetyshoulder located at the bottomof the said clearance-opening adjacent to the said firingopeningandconstitutingafenderfor the hammer except when the breech-block is in itsclosed position,andahammerhavingthe same pivotal center as the saidcarrier and entering the slot therein, and also entering theclearance-opening in the said hub of the breechblock.

5. In a cannon, the combination with a breech-block carrier having acentral opening, of a breech-block provided with a hub projectingrearwardly through the said opening, a hammer, and a pin constitutingthe pivot for both the breech-block carrier and the hammer;

6. In a cannon, the combination with the barrel thereof, of abreech-block carrier, a breech-block carried thereby, a hammer, a pinconstituting the pivot for both the breechblocl: carrier and the hammer,and a hammerspring engaging with the pin for holding the same in placein the barrel of the cannon.

7. In a cannon, the combination with the barrel thereof,the same havingan open groove formed in its lower face at its rear end, of a pivotalbreech-block carrier, a breech-block carried thereby, a hammer, a pinconstituting the pivot for both the breech-block carrier and the hammer,and a hammer-spring engaging With the pin for holding the same in thesaid groove in the barrel.

8. In a cannon, the combination with the barrel thereof, of abreech-block carrier, a

hammer, a pin on which both the said carrier and hammer swing, the saidpin being located in the lower face of the said barrel, and a springengaging with the said pin to hold it in place in the barrel of thecannon, and engaging with the hammer to hold the same in its cockedposition, and to throw it into its firing position.

9. In a cannon, the combination with a barrel having a breech-block slotand a locking-recess, of a pivotal breech-block carrier formed with acentral opening and with a hammer-slot,a breech=block formed with a hubprojecting rearwardly through the central opening of the breech-blockcarrier, and furnished with a handle, a hammer mounted upon the samepivot as the breech-block carrier, and entering the said slot therein,and a spring coacting with the said hammer to hold it in its cockedposition and to throw it into its firing position.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscrib ing witnesses.

CHARLES H. GRIFFITH.

Witnesses:

DANIEL H. VEADER, THos. O. JoHNsoN.

